Said hensger



June 15 1926.

M. J. LENSKY EF AL COMBINATION Loox 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet K 1 Filed May 22www Snom MJ LbNsKy f.' Il. Heh/56er.

June 15,1926.

' M. J. LENSKY ET AL COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 22. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet2 W. Ww .E L J.. ym

Patented June 15, 1926 I UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS J'. LENSKY .AND FRED A. HENSGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIOi; SAIDHENSGER ASSIGNOR TO CARL R. TAYLOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application led May 22,

This invention relates to combination locks and more particularly to acombination lock for controlling an electric circuit such as theignition circuit of an automobile.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact, easily operable lockwhich is adapted to be set for any one of a large number of combinationsand in which the combination can be easily clanged whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a lock in which the controlling elementscan be individually actuated and reset by a single actuating member. i

A further object is to provide a combination lock operated by arotatable knob which is movable in and out, as well as rotatably tooperate individual controlling members and to reset the controllingmembers.

A further object is to provide a dial movable with the operating knob toactuate the controlling members, and provided with means forautomatically positioning' the `dial with respect to the controllingmembers.

l Other objects will be apparent from the following description inconnection with the annexed drawings.

The following description and annexed drawings set forth in detailcertain means embodying our invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lock showing a `portion of the cover platebroken away to show the dial.

Fig. 2 is a section through the lock taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4 showingthe knob pushed in to shift one of the controlling pins.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing the knobpulled out to reset all the controlling pins.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the lockattached to its support.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing thc manner in which the lock isapplied to an automobile ignition system.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views showing the knob, coverplate, dial, insulating block, resetting plate and connectingbolt,and'lock casing, respectively,

1922.. Serial N0. 562,768.

separated but arranged in the order in which they are assembled.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the dial.

1Iig. 14 is a plan view'of the resetting p a e. p

Referring` to the annexed drawing, the lock ousing consists of a cupshaped casing 1 and a cover plate 2. The casing 1 has a -iiat back ,wall3,.a cylindrical body and an outturned front flange 44 to which thecover plate 2 is attached. The entire lock mechanism ismounted in thehousing and the casing 1 is fitted into an aperture in a support 5, suchas the instrument board of an automobile, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,with the flange 4 resting against the outer face of the support aroundthe aperture. The lock housing is secured to the support 5 by means ofbolts 6 passing through the support from the rear and through apertures7 in the iiange 4 and screwedinto threaded apertures 8 in the coverplate 2 which register -with the apertures 7 in the flange 4.

Figure 6 shows the lock applied to the ignition circuit yof anautomobile. One terminal is connected to the wire11 which is connectedto the primary 12 of a transformer,tlie secondary 13 of which isconnected to the distributor -14 which delivers the current to the sparkplugs 15 in proper succession, as is well understood in the art. Thewire 11 is preferably enclosed in an armored conduit 16 secured tothecasing enclosing the coil. The conduit is of a wellknown type whichcannot be easily cut or severed and is suitably secured in any wellknownmanner to the lock casing and the coil casing, so that it cannot beremoved therefrom without destruction or removal of such casings. Thewire 9 is lpreferably not enclosed inthe armor casing but leads directlyto the battery from one terminal of the lock.v With this construction itwill be seen that the wire 11 is well protected between the combinationlock and the coil casing, so that it cannot be reached andshort-circuited outside the lock.

The circuit make and break devices of the lock are mounted in a circularblock of insulating material 17, which fits within the casing 1 and isrigidly secured therein. The insulating block 17 is provided with a boss18 adjacent the edge thereof, which projects through 'an elongatedaperture 1.9V in the of the inner face Vwall 3 of the casing 1 rear Vall3 of the casing 1. rlhe boss 18 has einbedded therein a pair ot'conductor terininal posts 2O and 21 adapted to be connected to 'theWires 9 and 11 o'i the igcircuit. The body oi the insulating,l o 17 isspaced troni the rear vall 3 ot h easing 1 by inea-ns of a plurality otbosse Q2 which abut against the rear vail. Bol holes 23 extend throughthe block 1T centrally ot the bosses 12 and are counterbored to receivethe heads of attaching bolts E24: which are screived into threadedapertures 25 in the rear Wall 3 ot the czrsing7 which register with thebolt holes 23 in the insulating block 1.7. The insulating block 17 has arelatively deep peripheral groote and a series ot regularly spacedaiertures 27 extending` therethrough and intersecting the bottoniportion of the groove 26, Fit ting in each of the apertures 2? is pin 28forined of hard rubber or other insuletiA 11; material, the pins 28being` all et 'the size and shape and interchangeable. Each pin 2S has apair ot periph ral round bottoni grooves Q9 spaced equal distances'trein ition sin CD the opposite ends thereot and a thin niet lic collar30, preferably of brass, at one en and extending,` into one of thegrooves 29. Mounted in the peripheral groove 2G of the insulating' block17 are a series or inetellic balls 31. interposed between the pins 23and adapted to seat in the rounded grooves il of the pins. The balls 31are held in place by e suitable elastic ring 32 which rn t have aninsulated inner face and may be in the. 'forni or a rubber band.

The band or ing 32 is preferably superposed by a sprin 32 which togetherwith the band gives sui.- ficient tension to hold the bulls 31 firmlyplace. The terminal posts QG and e. Contact with one oit the balls and*when tl pins are so positioned hat the r collar ot each pin 28 is inContact .vith the adjacent balls 31, current can lovv troni the terminalpost 20 to the other terniinal post il through the balls 31 and collars30. A. pin resetting` plate 33 is nounted to movement between the rearWall 3 or" the casing 1 and the rear 'tace of the insulating' block 17.The resetting plate. 33 has an elongated aperture 3l through which theboss 18 oit the insulating block 17 extends and apertures 35 to receivethe soar/Jing; bosses 22, The resetting plate 33 is sli lable on thebosses 18 and 22 bet-Ween and the rear 'tace the insulating block 17. A.dial plate 36 has a central cylindrical boss 3'? projecting; from itsinner face and fitting` in a central aperture 33 through the insulating`block 17. Projecting` from the front tace oi"- the dial plate 36 is aknob receiving' boss which extends through a. central aperture coverplate. rllhe dial plate 3G axially through the bosses 37 and o9 the rearceive a connecting` bolt 11 and the boss 39 has a counterbore 42 inwhich the knob is secured. The knob 4:3 has a knurled head All and acylindrical. boss 1which tit-s within the counterbore 42. T he boss Ll5of the knob is bored axially and tapped to receive the threaded end otthe connectingv bolt l1. A stud secured in the bottoni oli thecounterbore 49. of the dial plate boss 3S) and the boss l5 ot the knob-l3 has u b re Il?, into 75 which the stud 48 projects to preventrotation or" the l'nob lf2 with respect to the dial plate The roar wallo the casing Yl has a cent-ral aperture 4S large enough to perinit thehoz. l 50 ot the connecting bolt t() S0 to 'freely pass therethrough.Vlie resetting plate 33 has a cent 'al A ture 5l 'to receive the sten orthe connecting bolt Ll0. n coil d b-tn'een thc end ot t 3G and thc re-S5 l Lo normally hold the und 'o `ie inner 'tace o't toting` plate 33 'tthe .ng l.

and rcs-'et- 90 d as above dee rotated by the n be pushed to- T br;pressing inhe ref-,'etting- J ist the rear face of thc ij block 7 bypulling the knob `dly, the dial plate, icsetingf plate and knob beingreturnrd to nornia p-A i tle spring 50 when 2W "F Q,"

o carries inw? o3 which is inv one ot' the apertures Q block ant to theknob focrture when 't "e the ate row of concave indentations 54, whichhave the same angular spacing as the apertures 27 in the insulatingblock 17. A slidable pin provided with a rounded end ei'igageable in theidentations 54 in the dial plate 36 is seated in a recess 56 in theinsulating block 17 and is pressed outwardly by means o1 a coil spring57. The outer face of the dial plate 36 is .provided with an arcuate rowof suitable characters such as the ordinals 1,2, 3, etc., which have thesame angular' spacing as the apertures 28 in the insulating block. Thecover 2 has a cirN cular aperture 58 covered by .a transparent panel 59,`in registry with which the characters on the dial are successivelypositionet as the dial is rotated. rthe dial plate 36 is so positionedwith respect to the insulating .ilock 17 that when the spring pressedpositioning pin 55clicks into an identation 54 on the'inner face of thedial plate, one of the characters on the dial registers with theaperture 58 in the cover 2 and the stud 53 registers with thecorresponding aperture 27.

In the drawing, a dial plate bearing thc numeralsl to 12 isshown,corresponding to the twelve apertures 27 in the'insulating block 17, inwhich the pins 28 are mounted. The stud 53 is so positioned that whenthe numeral 1 on the dial registers with the aperture 58, the stud 53is'in alinement with the first pin 28 on the left hand side of theterminal posts 20. Y By turning the knob43 'in a clockwise direction,the numerals 1 to 2 are successively brought into view and the dialplate is successively positioned opposite each of the twelve controllingpins 28. 1t 'is to be notedthat between the numerals 1 and 12 on thedial plate is a space substantially larger than the'intervening spacesbetween the numbers consecutively arranged on the dial. Similarly, theindentations 54 on the inner face of the dial plate have an unusuallylarge space between the first and last indentations. By this arrangementthe operator can rotate the knobs 43, listening to the click of the pin55 until the space is reached between the first and last identations. Hewill then know that the first clicks after that corresponds to number 1on the dial, etc. Even in the dark therefore he will be able to operatethe correct combination simply by listening to or feeliug'the clicks asthe dial rotates.

The lock may be set for any possible combination of the numbers on thedial by reversing the pins corresponding to the numbers o1 the selectedcombination. As shown in Fig. 4, all the pins have'their metal coveredends. to the rear of the insulating block resetting plateV 33 againstthe rear face of the vinsulating block 17 to return the projecting pinstov their original position. The' circuit can be rendered inoperative ifdesired by turning the dial to expose one of the numbers not in thecombination and pushing inY the knob 42. If so locked, it is necessaryto pull the knob outwardly to reset the pins before operating thecombination. In order to close the circuit it is necessary that only thepins corresponding to the numbcrs of the combination be actuated. 1f awrong pin is actuated, it is impossible to closethe circuit withoutfirst resetting the pins. Meddling with the lock by an unauthorizedperson may thus be detected. It the owner has locked the car byresetting the pins and someone has pressed in a pin not one of thecombination during his absence, he willknow that the lock has beentampered with because when the combination has been operated the circuitwill not be closed rand it will be necessary for him to reset the pinsandreoperate the combination. Y

In assembling the lock the pins 28 are assembled in the apertures 27 inthe insulating block 17 with the pins corresponding to the selectedcombination reversed with respect to the others, and the balls 31 areassembled within the band 32 in the peripheral groove 26. The resettingplate 33 is fitted upon the bosses 18 and 22 of the insulating block 17and the block 17 with the resetting plate 33 in place thereon isatt-ached to the rear wall 3 of the casing k1` by means of the bolts 24.The coil spring 52 is inserted in the axial aperture 38 of theinsulating block 17, the spring 57 and pin 54 areplaced in the recess 56in theinsulating block 17, and the boss 37 of the dial plate 36 isinserted in the aperture 38 of the insulating block. The cover plate 2is then placed upon the boss 39 of the dial plate, knob boss 45insertedA in the counterbore 42 of the boss 39 with the pin 46 in thebore 47. The connecting bolt 41 isthen slipped through from the rear andscrewed into the knob 43. The cover plate 2 is then positioned andsecured to the flange 4 orp the casing 1. Forv securing the cover plate2 to the flange 4 before the lock is fitted upon its support the coverplate 2 has threaded apertures alternating with the attaching boltapertures 8l and the flange 4'has aperh tures 6l alternating with theapertures 7. The apertures 61 are countersunk on'the rear side of theflange 4 to receive the heads of screws 62 which secure the cover platein ico place. lith the dial characters vand pin operating stud arrangedas shown in the drawings, the cover plate 2 should be positioned whenattached to the flange t with its aperture 58 diametrically opposite theboss 18 of the insulating block 17. The lock will then be positioned onthe instrument board 5 with the aperture 58 at the top and the lug 18 atthe bottom. IVhen the lock is attached to its support none of the lockattaching devices are accessible except from the rear side of thesupport, so that it is not possible foi` anyone to gain access to thelock mechanism from the front thereof.

It will thus be seen that we have devised a simple and efficientmechanism for easily making the electric circuit, for the ignitioncircuit of an automobile if the lock be applied to this use by simplyshifting the proper pins so that their electrically conducting grooveswill contact with the balls. As there may be any number of pins to beshifted and as there are a great multiplicity of combinations possible,it will be practically impossible for an unauthorized person to obtainthe correct combination.

It will also be noted that if any one of the pins not in the combinationto produce an electric circuit be shifted, the shifting of any or all ofthe remaining pins will not give a continuous electrical circuit throughthe llock, and all of the pins will have to be reset by pulling theactuating member outwardly and the correct pins in the combina.- tionproperly shifted.

It will also be noted that as the pins are reversible, the combinationmay be changed as frequently as desired by simply removing one or morepins and reversing them end for end when returning them to theinsulating block.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms ofapparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth,are presented for the puposes o f explanation and illustration, and thatvarious modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be madewithout departing from our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. In a combination lock, the combination with a series of shiftablecontrolling members, of a selective operating member mounted formovement into operative relationship with the individual controllingmembers and operable when so disposed with respect to a controllingmember to shift the same and operable in any position to retract allcontrolling members which have previously been shifted.

2. In a combination lock, an arcuate row of shiftable controllingmembers, a rotatably and slidably mounted actuating member, said memberhaving means thereon engageable with a controlling member when saidactuating member is shifted bodily in one direction, and means forcontrolling the rotative movement of said actuating member to cause thesame to stop with the engaging means in alinement with one of thecoiitrolling members.

3. In a combination loch', a casing, a block fixed in said casing, anarcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, arotatable and bodily sliiftable dial plate, having astud on its innerside, means for controlling the rotative movement of said dial to causesaid stud to be alined successively with said pins whereby said pins canbe successively shifted by a bodily movement of said dial plate, andmeans for resetting said pins.

Ll. ln a combination lock, a casing, a block fixed in said casing, anarcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, arotatable dial plate movable toward and Vfrom said block, said dialplate having a stud projecting from its rear face and an arcuate row ofindentations therein, said dial plate having also an arcuate row ofcharacters thereon, the angular spacing of said pins, the indentationsin said plate and the. characters in said arcuate rows being the saine,a detent carried by the block and engageable with said indentations tocause said stud to register with the individual pins, a cover plate forsaid casing having an aperture with which said characters on said dialplate successively register when said dial plate is rotated and a knobprojecting through the cover for actuating said dial plate.

5. In a combination lock, a casing, a block secured in said casing, saidblock having an arcuate row of apertures therethrough, pins slidablyfitting in said apertures, a rotatably actuating member mounted forbodily movement toward and from said block and adapted to shift theindividual pins when moved toward the block, a resetting plate upon theopposite side of said block and means for moving said resettinfY platetoward and from the rear face of saitl block to reset all pinspreviously shifted.

6. In a combination lock, a casing, a block secured in said casing, saidblock having an arcuate row of apertures therethrough, pins slidable insaid apertures, a cover plate, a pin actuating member rotatably mountedand slidable between the block and cover plate, a resetting plateslidably mounted between the rear wall of the casing and the rear faceof the block, a spring interposed between said resetting plate andactuating member for normally holding them in engagement with the rearwall of the casing and the cover, and a common actuating means for saidactuating member and resetting plate for rotating said actuating memberand shifting the same toward the block and for shifting said resettingplate toward the block.

7. In a combination lock, a circular block having a peripheral grooveand a series of apertures intersecting the bottom portion of saidgroove, a series of slidable pins in said apertures, each of said pinshaving a pair of peripheral grooves, one of said grooves being normallyin register with said groove, a series of balls in said block groove,each ball engaging in the grooves of two adjacent pins, resilient meansfor holding said balls in said groove, and means for shifting said pinsto engage either of the grooves thereof with said balls.`

8. In a combination lock, a circular insulating block having aperipheral groove and an arcuate series of apertures intersecting thebottom portion of said groove,` a series of pins made of insulatingmaterial slidably fitting. in said apertures, each of said pins having apair of peripheral grooves and a metal band encircling one of saidgrooves, said pins each being adapted to be reversely positioned in saidapertures, an arcuate row of metallic balls alternating With said pinsin said block groove, each of said balls being in engagement with one ofthe grooves in each of two adjacent pins, conductor terminals inengagement With the end balls of the row, means for yieldingly holdingsaid balls in place, and means for selectively shifting said pins andresetting the same.

9. In a combination lock for making an electric circuit, the combinationwith an arcuate row of shiftable reversible non-conducting pins having aportion of their surfaces forming an electrical conductor, ofelectrically conducting members contacting with adjacent pins, and aselective operating member mounted for movement into position to shiftany such pin to make 0r break the electric circuit between such electricconductors. f

l0. In a combination lock for making an electric circuit, thecombination with a casing, of a block fixed in said casing, an arcuaterow of controlling pins slidably mounted in said block, said pins havinggrooves to be engaged by resiliently-pressed, electrically conductingmembers mounted in a groove in said block to normally tend to hold saidpins, one of said grooves of each pin forming an electrical conductor,and a selective actuating member rotatable to individually shift saidpins to aline the electrically conducting grooves with said electricallyconducting members whereby an electric current can pass through saidelectrically conducting members and pins.

11. In a combination lock, a circular block having a peripheral grooveand a series of .apertures intersecting the bottom portion of saidgroove, a series of slidable pins in said apertures, each of said pinshaving a peripheral non-conducting groove and a peripheral electricallyconducting groove, one of said grooves being normally in register withsaid groove, a series of electrically conducting balls in said blockgroove, each ball engaging in the grooves of two adjacent pins,resilient means for holding said balls in said groove, and means forshifting said pins to engage either of the grooves thereof with saidballs, whereby an electric current may be transmitted through said pinsand balls when said electrically conducting grooves of said pins are incontact with said balls.

l2. In a combination lock for completing an electric circuit, thecombination with a casing, of an insulating block carried by the casingand having a groove therein, a series of circuit making or breakingmembers shiftable transversely of said groove, electrical conductingmembers mounted in said groove to resiliently engage said shiftablemembers, said shiftable members having portions of their surfaceelectrically conductive, and selective means operable to individuallyshift said members to make or break the circuit, and means to reset saidmembers.

13. In a combination lock for an electric circuit, the combination witha casing, of an insulating block carried thereby and having a groovetherein, a series of pins mounted in said block for movementtransversely of said groove, said pins having portions of their surfaceformed of electrical conductive material and other portions of said pinsbeing non-conductive, electrical conductive members in said groove andresiliently engaging said pins, means to selectively shift said pinsindividually to make or break the electric circuit, and means to resetsaid members.

14. In a combination lock, a casinghaving a cover member, a block fixedin the casing, an arcuate row of controlling pins slidably mounted inthe block, said cover member having an aperture therein, a 10- tatableand bodily shiftable dial plate having a stud on its inner side ,andhaving indicating devices on its outer side to be visible successivelythrough said aperture, means for controlling the rotative movement ofsaid dial to cause said stud to be alined successively with said pinsindicated by said indicating devices, whereby said pins can besuccessively shifted by the bodily movement of said dial plate, andmeans for resetting the pins.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures.

MORRIS J. LENSKY. FRED A. HENSGER.

llO

